News NRL announces rule changes for scrums, trainers, 20/40 kick, endorses challenge system

Spoonman84

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The NRL has announced a range of rule changes for the 2020 season relating to scrums, trainers and tackling players off the ground while also introducing a 20/40 kick.

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and head of football elite competitions Graham Annesley announced the changes on Friday after the moves were approved by the ARL Commission on Thursday.

The Commission also endorsed the introduction of a general-play "challenge" system and NRL management will work through all the operational details with a final report to be provided to the commission in February.

It is likely teams would receive one challenge per match – they would get another challenge if their first one was upheld but lose the option if it was unsuccessful.

The 20/40 kick will work in a similar fashion to the existing 40/20 rule.

A team in possession will earn another set via a tap-kick if they kick the ball from within their own 20-metre zone and find touch within the opposing team's 40-metre line.

Under the change to the scrum rule, the team feeding the ball will have the option of setting the scrum at three locations – 10 metres or 20 metres from the sideline or in the centre of the field, in alignment with the black dot on the crossbar.

Teams will be given five seconds to inform the referee of their choice of scrum position.

The NRL has announced a change to the "mutual infringement" rule regarding incidents when the ball strikes a trainer or the referee. Previously, the loose head and feed would be awarded to whichever team "the attacking team (i.e. with territorial advantage)".

Under the new rule, the referee will be able to replay the previous play-the-ball in the event of play being irregularly affected by circumstances out of the players' control.

The act of tackling a player in mid-air will be banned whether the player initiating contact is the attacking player or the defending player, in line with the current international laws of the game.

The Commission agreed that further limitations should be placed on the time orange and blue shirt trainers could spend on the field. The specific constraints will be finalised prior to the February Commission meeting.

Additionally, the Commission recommended a trial be undertaken in the second-tier competitions to assess the impact of teams being required to use six players in a scrum even when down to 12 players.

There will be no changes to the scoring system for wins in extra time, which was discussed in the lead-up to the Commission meeting.

The approved changes followed discussion by the NRL Competition Committee and the coaches last month.

Greenberg said ensuring the quality of the sport as a spectacle was paramount to the thinking behind the changes.

"We are constantly looking at ways to ensure the game is easier to officiate, and is also innovative and unpredictable," Greenberg said.

We are constantly looking at ways to ensure the game is easier to officiate.

Todd Greenberg
"We certainly feel these changes will have a positive impact on the sport."

Annesley said the NRL had "taken advice and feedback from the key stakeholders of the game in order to make these decisions".

"There has been significant engagement with our fans, the Competition Committee as well as through the NRL coaches, the clubs, and the RLPA.

"Over 20,000 fans responded to an end-of-season survey, more than tripling the response to the 2018 online survey.

"We are constantly looking to evolve, and we believe these changes will lead to a more entertaining game for fans.

"The Competition Committee and the coaches all had the game as a spectacle at the heart of their discussions, along with other key considerations including player wellbeing and the impact on the sport at all levels, and that clearly aligns with the Commission's overall vision for the sport."

https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/12/06...trainers-2040-kick-endorses-challenge-system/
 

Spoonman84

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20/40 will never happen in a game I just don’t get why they have to change the rules every year!
 

Dogzof95

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The sooner Greenberg is gone the better! NFI, he doesn't have a feel for the game and he's destroying this once great sport slowly.
 
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Mr Invisible

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Things like this just allow teams and coaches to exploit the rules. I'll be interested to see the stipulations around the challenge system (is it only for tries, or knock ons and forward passes as well?)? Depending how it's implemented coaches and captains could use it to break attacking teams momentum and earn a breather (like the HIA system is becomming).

20/40 is a massive risk, but I guess gives teams a chance to risk getting out of their own end if caught on their goal line.

No idea why they have changed the scrum rule, when everyones been saying for ages "Get rid of them".
 

JUNKYARD DOGS

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The trainers should only be on the field for injury or a break in play.
Replay last tackle, meh " aight fellas we gone have a do-ever" how unprofessional is that going to look. Just play on, kick it hard enough knock the fkrs out.
 

Freakzilla

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Get rid of the scrums completely.
 

Psycho Doggie

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Don't mind the 20/40 in theory. If a half can nail a couple of them it will put other teams on notice and they will start dropping a winger back, which then opens up the defensive line a bit for a teams trying to work the ball out of their own area. Will it work that way in practice? Only time will tell.
 

Natboy

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20/40 will never happen in a game I just don’t get why they have to change the rules every year!
I’d like to see it tried if you’re trapped at your end with the opposition defence on a roll. Wouldn’t be easy to get much space though
 

CroydonDog

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Don't mind the 20/40 in theory. If a half can nail a couple of them it will put other teams on notice and they will start dropping a winger back, which then opens up the defensive line a bit for a teams trying to work the ball out of their own area. Will it work that way in practice? Only time will tell.
It sounds too Rugby Union for my liking.
 

JackDog

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So every team needs someone that can kick the shit out of the ball to get out of danger, they'll have 40m of the sideline to aim for.

Every winger needs to be able to catch a kick and twist their body so that the ball comes down first since they cannot be tackled.

Yay, another 5sec delay added to scrums.

Watch captains challenge be used to give players a rest.

NRLol fucking with nuisance rules again.
 

Mr. Ditkovich

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Can’t wait until they introduce a handball rule, where you can’t touch the ball with your hands.

I wouldn’t be surprised, because the NRL have absolutely no idea what to do.
 

JUNKYARD DOGS

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20/40 has nothing to do with Rugby.....

You can kick it out on the full from within your 22, nothing to do with 40m line. Can go out 25m from your line or anywhere
 

wendog33

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The trainers should only be on the field for injury or a break in play.
Replay last tackle, meh " aight fellas we gone have a do-ever" how unprofessional is that going to look. Just play on, kick it hard enough knock the fkrs out.
Have an interchange type system with the trainers as well.

8 field entries per half. Side line official holds up a card seeking permission for trainer to enter the field of play. Once 8 up tough luck no more water or Alfie directing defence.
 

JUNKYARD DOGS

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Have an interchange type system with the trainers as well.

8 field entries per half. Side line official holds up a card seeking permission for trainer to enter the field of play. Once 8 up tough luck no more water or Alfie directing defence.
Just keep em off in general play, stoppages/injuries only. No need for them to be on the field. They are professional athletes they should know how to run a few plays without on-field coaching.
 

Dogzof95

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Just keep em off in general play, stoppages/injuries only. No need for them to be on the field. They are professional athletes they should know how to run a few plays without on-field coaching.
I can’t think of any other sport that allows trainers on the field willy nilly. It looks like an under 6’s game.
 

sgodllubsti

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all smoke and mirrors, the nrl have to be seen as though they are actually addressing issues with the game, even though what they are proposing are nothing points to help what is happening on the field

nothing about allowing a substitute player for one taken out by foul play
nrl is heading down the rugby union, gridiron path of stoppage after stoppage
 

Alan79

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The current NRL administration won't be happy until the game is barely recognisable. Every year we see a number of changes. They typically allow for more grey areas where referees can interpret things as they please. I already see that the refs can manipulate the outcomes by calling well timed penalties. Even if the penalty count is level you can often see one team getting 5 penalties on the 4th tackle while the opposite side gets their 5 penalties on the 1st tackle.

I begrudgingly watch the game, but it gets more difficult every season.
 
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